PNWSights

Waterfalls

21 places · Cascades, drops & mist-hung gorges

Snoqualmie Falls plunges over a rocky cliff in a wide, misty morning view, with the river spilling into a deep canyon framed by dense evergreen forest. A lodge and small buildings sit along the left rim while spray rises across the lower right side of the falls.
Waterfalls
57

Seattle, WA

Snoqualmie Falls

A 268-foot waterfall on the Snoqualmie River, 25 miles east of Seattle, that is one of Washington's most popular natural attractions. The falls are 100 feet taller than Niagara Falls and are sacred to the Snoqualmie Tribe. A lower observation platform accessible by a steep 0.7-mile trail provides views from the base of the falls.

morningspring · summer
Multnomah Falls drops in two tiers over dark basalt cliffs, with a thin upper ribbon of water falling to the historic stone footbridge and a broader lower cascade plunging into a small pool below. Lush green trees frame the misty scene, and the long-exposure blur gives the water a silky, soft look.
Waterfalls
57

Troutdale, OR

Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls is a 620-foot two-tiered waterfall, the tallest in Oregon. A historic stone footbridge built in 1914 spans the falls between the upper and lower tiers. The falls flow year-round, with peak volume during spring snowmelt.

morningspring · summer
A white curtain of Palouse Falls drops into a deep basalt canyon, framed by sunlit brown and green scabland hills under a clear blue sky. Two people stand on the grassy rim at right, looking down over the dramatic overlook.
Waterfalls
56

LaCrosse, WA

Palouse Falls

Washington's official state waterfall drops 198 feet into a circular basalt plunge pool carved by Ice Age floods, in a canyon that seems to appear from nowhere in the rolling wheat country of the Palouse. The upper viewpoint looks straight down the canyon as the river snakes away toward the Snake. Spring runoff turns the falls into a thundering column framed by green hills.

golden hourspring · summer
A weathered wooden railroad trestle spans a wooded ravine beside a wide gravel trail in the park, framed by leafless trees and evergreen undergrowth. Late autumn colors and damp, muted light give the scene a quiet, overcast feel.
Waterfalls
45

Bellingham, WA

Whatcom Falls Park

A 241-acre urban park in Bellingham centered around four sets of waterfalls along Whatcom Creek. The main waterfall drops approximately 30 feet beneath a historic stone bridge built by the WPA in 1939. The park contains old-growth Douglas fir trees and a network of trails through temperate rainforest.

morningspring · summer
A tall, narrow waterfall drops in a thin white ribbon down a dark, moss-covered rock face into a small pool, with bright green ferns and forest growth clinging to the cliff around it. A wooden trail railing and scattered rocks frame the bottom of the scene, emphasizing the close-up view in the shaded forest.
Waterfalls
45

Port Angeles, WA

Marymere Falls

Marymere Falls is a 90-foot waterfall accessed via a 1.8-mile round-trip trail from the Storm King Ranger Station near Lake Crescent. The falls drop over a moss-covered cliff into a narrow gorge surrounded by old-growth Douglas fir and western hemlock. Water flow is highest in spring and after heavy rains.

morningspring · winter
A rushing blue-green river surges through a narrow, moss-covered canyon, framed by tall old-growth evergreens and leafy spring trees. Sunlight brightens the forest canopy while the water breaks around dark rocks and a fallen log along the rocky bank.
Waterfalls
45

Port Angeles, WA

Sol Duc Falls

Sol Duc Falls is a multi-tiered waterfall where the Sol Duc River splits into three or four channels dropping roughly 25 feet into a narrow basalt canyon. The falls are reached via a 0.8-mile trail through old-growth forest from the Sol Duc trailhead. A photogenic footbridge crosses directly above the falls, providing an elevated vantage point.

morningspring · summer
A mossy rainforest creek winds through wet rocks and exposed roots, with a small silky cascade tucked under a fallen log in the background. Dense green ferns and bright foliage frame the scene, emphasizing the lush, shaded forest setting.
Waterfalls
45

Quinault, WA

Merriman Falls

Merriman Falls is a 40-foot waterfall visible directly from the South Shore Road along Lake Quinault. The falls cascade over a mossy rock face surrounded by dense temperate rainforest. No hiking is required, as the waterfall is steps from a roadside pullout.

morningspring · winter
Long-exposure water pours through a narrow rocky chute, spilling over mossy basalt boulders in several white ribbons. Evergreen branches frame the upper edge, with dark wet stone and bright green moss giving the scene a lush, shaded forest look.
Waterfalls
37

Skykomish, WA

Deception Falls

Deception Falls is a powerful cascade on Deception Creek that plunges through a narrow basalt chute along Highway 2 near Stevens Pass. A short interpretive trail with boardwalks provides views of both the upper and lower falls. The falls are particularly impressive during spring runoff.

anyspring · summer
Sunlit turquoise river water fills the foreground, with pale boulders and mossy rocks along the left edge and a group of people standing on the rocky shore in the distance. Dark forested cliffs and deep shade frame the calm swimming hole, contrasting with the bright water.
Waterfalls
37

Skykomish, WA

Eagle Falls (Skykomish)

Eagle Falls is a powerful cascade on the South Fork Skykomish River, dropping approximately 25 feet through a rock channel near Stevens Pass. The falls are easily accessible from a pullout along Highway 2. The surrounding old-growth forest and mossy boulders provide a lush backdrop.

anyspring · summer
A tall, narrow ribbon of water drops straight down a dark basalt cliff streaked with bright yellow-green lichen, framed by dense green forest and autumn leaves. The long exposure softens the falls into a silky column beneath an overcast morning sky.
Waterfalls
37

Troutdale, OR

Latourell Falls

Latourell Falls drops 249 feet in a single plunge over a basalt cliff face covered in bright yellow-green lichen. The falls are among the most accessible in the Columbia River Gorge, with a short paved trail from the parking area. A 2.4-mile loop trail leads to Upper Latourell Falls.

morningspring · winter
Wahclella Falls pours in a bright white ribbon from a narrow basalt slot into a shadowy gorge, framed by moss-covered canyon walls. Ferns, driftwood, and rounded boulders fill the foreground around the splash pool in soft morning light.
Waterfalls
37

Cascade Locks, OR

Wahclella Falls

Wahclella Falls is a two-tiered waterfall with a total drop of approximately 350 feet, tucked into a narrow basalt canyon on Tanner Creek. The lower tier drops into a large splash pool surrounded by moss-covered rocks. The trail is 1.9 miles round trip through a lush, fern-lined gorge.

morningspring · winter
A powerful white waterfall plunges over dark lava rock into a misty pool, framed by dense old-growth forest and moss-covered cliffs. Soft morning light and drifting spray give the scene a cool, moody feel.
Waterfalls
37

McKenzie Bridge, OR

Sahalie Falls

Sahalie Falls is a 100-foot waterfall on the McKenzie River that plunges over a lava dam into a pool of turquoise water. The name comes from the Chinook word for 'heaven.' The falls are connected to nearby Koosah Falls by a 0.4-mile trail through old-growth forest.

morningspring · summer
Koosah Falls drops in a broad white curtain over a dark basalt cliff, with mist billowing into the blue-green pool below. Dense evergreen forest frames the wide, long-exposure scene, softening the water into silky streaks.
Waterfalls
37

McKenzie Bridge, OR

Koosah Falls

Koosah Falls drops 70 feet over a basalt cliff on the McKenzie River, approximately a quarter mile downstream from Sahalie Falls. Spring-fed tributaries emerge from the surrounding lava walls, adding side cascades to the main falls. The pool below displays vivid blue-green coloration from the volcanic mineral content.

morningspring · summer
A tall, narrow waterfall cascades in several white tiers down a steep, dark rock gorge, framed by dense evergreen trees on the left and sunlit mossy cliffs on the right. The bright afternoon light catches the cliff face while the stream churns through the tight canyon below.
Waterfalls
32

Marblemount, WA

Gorge Creek Falls

Gorge Creek Falls drops 242 feet into a narrow, moss-covered gorge along the North Cascades Highway. A footbridge directly over the gorge provides a dramatic vantage point. The falls flow year-round, though volume is highest during spring snowmelt.

anyspring · summer
A white rush of waterfall surges through a narrow, mossy gorge, framed by dark rock and dense green foliage. A weathered concrete and wooden structure spans the water at the upper left, adding a rugged manmade contrast to the forest setting.
Waterfalls
32

Marblemount, WA

Ladder Creek Falls

Ladder Creek Falls is a series of cascades flowing through a lush, mossy gorge near the town of Newhalem in North Cascades National Park complex. A short loop trail with interpretive signs follows the creek through old-growth forest. Seattle City Light historically illuminated the falls at night during summer months.

morningspring · summer
A narrow wooden footbridge crosses a rocky, mostly dry creek bed in dense green forest, with sunlight patching the trail and ferns along the steep banks. Two hikers in the distance add scale to the shaded mountain path.
Waterfalls
32

Index, WA

Bridal Veil Falls (Index)

Bridal Veil Falls is a 1,328-foot tiered waterfall on the south face of Mount Index, one of the tallest waterfalls in Washington State. A spur trail from the Lake Serene trail leads to a viewpoint of the lower falls. The falls are fed by snowmelt and are most voluminous in late spring and early summer.

afternoonspring · summer
Two white curtains of water plunge over a moss-covered basalt wall into a narrow gorge, with a fallen tree leaning across the green rock between the falls. The long exposure softens the rushing water, while the damp, shaded canyon feels lush and enclosed.
Waterfalls
32

Cascade Locks, OR

Elowah Falls

Elowah Falls is a 213-foot waterfall that plunges into a large basalt amphitheater in John B. Yeon State Scenic Corridor. The moss-covered walls of the amphitheater create a dramatic enclosed setting. An upper viewpoint trail provides a birds-eye perspective of the falls and gorge.

morningspring · winter
A narrow white ribbon of Punch Bowl Falls drops into a calm pool, framed by steep moss-covered basalt walls and tall evergreens glowing in soft morning light. The long-exposure water surface is glassy, with the rocky creek bed faintly visible beneath the dark foreground.
Waterfalls
32

Cascade Locks, OR

Punch Bowl Falls

Punch Bowl Falls is a 35-foot waterfall on Eagle Creek that drops into a deep turquoise pool surrounded by mossy basalt walls. The falls are accessed via the popular Eagle Creek Trail, one of the most scenic hikes in the Columbia River Gorge. The trail features tunnels blasted through cliff faces and narrow ledge paths.

morningspring · summer
A studio-style head-and-shoulders portrait of a woman with curly dark brown hair and a black blazer against a plain light gray background. She faces the camera with a slight smile, and soft even lighting highlights her eyes and facial features.
Waterfalls
32

Government Camp, OR

Ramona Falls

Ramona Falls is a 120-foot waterfall on Mount Hood's west slope that cascades over a mossy columnar basalt face, spreading into hundreds of thin streams. The falls are accessed via a 7.1-mile loop trail that crosses the Sandy River and passes through old-growth forest. The unique texture of the falls makes it one of the most photographed waterfalls on Mount Hood.

morningsummer · fall
A small forest creek winds through mossy volcanic rocks and fallen logs, framed by tall evergreens under soft morning light. The water runs clear and shallow, with a narrow cascade visible in the background.
Waterfalls
32

Bend, OR

Newberry Volcanic Monument - Paulina Falls

Paulina Falls is a pair of waterfalls that drop approximately 80 feet from Paulina Lake over the caldera rim of Newberry Volcano. The twin falls are separated by a rocky outcrop and are most impressive during spring snowmelt. Newberry Volcano is one of the largest shield volcanoes in the contiguous United States.

morningspring · summer
A wide black-and-white view of Upper Proxy Falls shows multiple thin streams fanning over a moss-covered cliff in a dense old-growth forest, with fallen logs crossing the scene. Bright water contrasts with deep shade from towering firs and cedars, and a person sits on one log near the falls for scale.
Waterfalls
32

Sisters, OR

Proxy Falls

Proxy Falls consists of two waterfalls along a 1.6-mile loop trail off McKenzie Pass Highway 242. Upper Proxy Falls drops 226 feet in a fan shape over a mossy cliff face, while Lower Proxy Falls drops 64 feet into a pool that disappears into a porous lava bed. The surrounding old-growth forest features towering Douglas fir and western red cedar.

morningsummer · fall